Ghosting

The party was in full swing by the time someone noticed her. At first she seemed to flicker out of existence as a train of dancing couples glided around the floor, but then Max blinked again and suddenly she was there.

Dainty like a porcelain doll, with her blonde curls nestled loosely on top of her head, she stood off in the farthest corner of the dance floor, her eyes downcast and her hands clasped firmly together. No one spoke to her as she took fleeting glances of the giddy young men and women around her - a sad sense of resignation never leaving her gray eyes.

But despite her aura of melancholy Max couldn't take his eyes off of this ethereal girl. Something about her called out to him, intrigued him - and then, as if sensing his gaze, she looked up slowly. They locked eyes, and all at once her hold seemed to grow over him.

Max walked across the dance hall avoiding the other party-goers as he kept his sights set firmly on the girl - as if afraid that she would suddenly vanish from his sight. She seemed to wait patiently, never looking away as he neared, but remained frozen in place like a statue.

"Hello," Max said loudly over the blaring music once he reached her.

She made no reply, though she stared directly at him. He cleared his throat and said louder, "I don't think I've seen you around here before. I'm Max Halbrook." He held out his hand to her.

The girl glanced at it, then Max, then back to his outstretched hand before at last shaking it gingerly. Max waited for bit longer before realizing she needed another prompting.

"You are?" Those soft, gray eyes stared back at him silently.

"What's your name?"

"No one important," she finally answered allowing her hand to drop. Her voice was so soft and demure it barely registered as a whisper.

"Well then what's your name?" Max prodded again, louder than before as the music crescendo-ed all around them. Again she said nothing and only stared at him with those bewitching eyes. Suddenly the song ended and was instantly replaced with an old love song.

As he opened his mouth again, the girl interrupted him:

"Dance with me?" she asked softly, cocking her head to the dance floor. Max simply smiled.

"Love to," then he took her hand gently and led her to the center of the dance floor, maneuvering carefully around the couples filing slowly into the fold.

She allowed him to spin her slowly around him before he pulled her close to his chest, both hands resting tenderly on the small of her back as their bodies began to sway in time with the music. She draped her arms lightly over his shoulders and gazed up at him silently with that strange longing look.

As with their dance Max took the lead of the conversation, though they barely spoke as one slow song passed into another. Whenever a loud and lively song filled the air around them, they simply sat off to the side where Max spoke more about his family, his friends, and even the spirited heart-breaker who led him to the dance that night.

"I should've known she'd never show," he admitted bashfully, running his fingers through his hair. "She's a little out of my league but I - well, I just thought she liked me. You know?"

"I like you," the girl answered softly. "I think you seem very nice."

The last comment startled him somewhat and for the oddest reason: a hopeful register, small as it was, seemed to ring through the air around her words. He opened his mouth to once again ask her name, when suddenly a slow, sad song began to play. She rose slowly from her seat and said,

"One more dance. Then I have to go home."

Instantly an ominous sense of foreboding clawed at Max from the pit of his stomach.

"But the dance won't be over for a while," he replied. "Or, maybe we could go over to..."

"One more dance," she repeated urgently. "Then I have to go home."

Max nodded, struggling to hide his disappointment, as he led her back to the dance floor. This time to a quiet, shadowy corner, where they would have more privacy.

As they slow danced, the girl nuzzled her head against his broad chest, ignoring all of his attempts to persuade her to stay. Eventually, Max gave up and they finished the dance in silence. A few moments after the song ended, as he still held her close, she closed her eyes and pitifully whispered,

"Please take me home..."

***

I told him my name was Mary - even though I don't remember my name anymore.

Even though I'm not sure I even had a name to begin with.

We left the hall in silence, and then drove through the parking lot in silence. We watched the town pass us in silence. I was still surprised to see how much had changed over the years, the decades.

Nearly a century now gone since I first laid eyes on the town.

He tried to make small talk again. What was the point?

The ones who take me home never see the real me.

He asked me where I lived, and so I told him... he was surprised to see the front gates of the old cemetery.

They're always so surprised.

He tried to stop me when I got out, begging me to "wait! Don't go there! It's dangerous this time of night!" But I've never been afraid.

At least not of the dark.

He fell silent when the gates parted for me, after a frightened curse escaped his lips. Then the world went silent. I was all alone.

Again.

I don't really know my name. Only that they all call out to me. All of the boys, all of the girls, all of the ones who have loved and lost and want to disappear.

The only reason I come to them, is because I think, just maybe, they can take me home.

My real home. Wherever that is...

I call myself Mary, even though I don't know my name anymore - if I even had one to start.

Do you think... just maybe... you can take me home?

END